Page 21 of Vameer

I hold it carefully as I push my left hand through the center of the bracelet.

The band holding the beads together stretches. And I worry I’m going to break it. But then it slides over the widest part of my hand and settles around my wrist.

The beads are spaced out, showing the thin stretchy string holding them together, though I suspect it would fit my Little Human differently.

I press my thumb to one of the hearts.

And standing there, with my dick hardening in the cold chamber, I close my eyes and listen as my heart beats in time with my mate’s.

“Mon Coeur.”

Chapter 5

Rune

Steam billows through the room when I finally turn the shower off.

Washing the impossible rain out of my hair was supposed to make me feel better. But every time I closed my eyes, I pictured myself back in that cave. And every time I opened my eyes, I felt disappointment.

Which. Is. Crazy.

I am going crazy.

That’s the gift the universe has given me on this, my thirtieth, birthday.

I run my fingers through my wet hair, separating it into sections, and squeeze the extra water out before I stick my hand past the curtain and pull my towel off its hook.

Dried off, hair twisted in a second towel, I pull the curtain back.

My damp shorts look back at me. And the sight of them, with my underwear, has that heat building in my core again.

Gritting my teeth, I step out of the shower.

Then I open the cabinet under the sink. Grab my vibrator. And stomp out of the bathroom.

“Fine. You know what? You win, universe.” I shake the teal silicone toy up at the ceiling. “I give up.”

I storm around my apartment, pulling the blackout curtains shut, blocking out the late afternoon sun.

“I’m not fighting today. It’s my birthday.”

I ignore the unopened gift from my parents on the table.

Thinking about bracelets right now is going to send me into an absolute spiral.

“I’m going to enjoy myself.” I grab my phone, then toss it and the toy onto my mattress. “I imagined it all.”

I drop my towel. Pull the other one off my hair. Then I climb into the comfort of my bed.

Chapter 6

Vameer

Naked, I take a second to look down at myself.

My chest is more rounded than I remember.

I flex my hands, watching the muscles in my forearms shift as I feel the way my strength has increased.